And they formed quite a battery in their first major league game together.

Wheeler, a Georgia native, carried a shutout into the seventh inning to become the only pitcher to beat the Braves three times this season, and d’Arnaud earned his first big-league hit. Home runs from Marlon Byrd and Ike Davis finished off streaking Atlanta.

The jewel of the Carlos Beltran trade (Wheeler) teamed up with the jewel of the R.A. Dickey trade (d’Arnaud). And for one night in Queens, in front of 25,863 fans, it was not about the future. It was not about what Alderson and the rest of the general manager’s staff were building.

It was all about what’s happening now.

“I felt like we were both sharing the same emotions on the field,” d’Arnaud said. “And we just stuck to the plan and executed the plan.”

Now comes the bigger plan. It includes Matt Harvey and David Wright, and maybe Davis and Wilmer Flores. It’s the plan to rebuild the Mets into a contender in 2014 and beyond.

The 23-year-old Wheeler (6-2, 3.49 ERA) allowed three runs — which scored on a two-out, three-run Andrelton Simmons double in the seventh off reliever Carlos Torres — in 6 2-3 innings. The right-hander yielded six hits and three walks to go along with five strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old d’Arnaud (1-for-4) made his New York debut and belted an eighth-inning double — his 11th at-bat since his call-up Saturday.

“[Going hitless] was definitely weighing on me a little bit,” he said.

His father, Lance, was in the crowd. D’Arnaud will give him the ball from his first hit, he said.

D’Arnaud also guided Wheeler, whom he had caught in the minors, through another strong outing.

“Just a different jersey, same guy,” he said.

Wheeler thus far has delivered on the promise that made him the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft. Since July began, he’s 5-1 with a 3.08 ERA, and the Mets are 8-1. They have won nine of his 12 starts.

Wheeler has given up a combined six earned runs over 18 2-3 innings in his three outings against Atlanta. He said it’s “an easy game plan” to face them, despite their gaudy record.

“I’ve had success against them. I’m sort of happy about that,” he said. “Not so much my friends back home [in Georgia].”

But Wheeler was “pretty mad” about the seventh and having to leave the game.

“This guy, the more he pitches, the better he’s going to get,” Collins said. “He competes, boy. He was furious that he came out when he did.”

The Mets (58-66) barely were able to piece together any offense against Braves starter Brandon Beachy until Byrd’s bat got to him in a three-run sixth.

He blasted his 21st home run of the season, a two-run shot, for a career high. Byrd, 35, has hit four homers in his past seven games.

“He’s truly, absolutely saved us,” Collins said. “Every good team’s got to have a great story and a surprise. And he’s it.”

“Last year, after everything I went through — the suspension [for PEDs], going home, going down to Mexico [for winter ball], to sit here now and have a career high in homers is just a blessing,” Byrd said.

And they formed quite a battery in their first major league game together.

Wheeler, a Georgia native, carried a shutout into the seventh inning to become the only pitcher to beat the Braves three times this season, and d’Arnaud earned his first big-league hit. Home runs from Marlon Byrd and Ike Davis finished off streaking Atlanta.

The jewel of the Carlos Beltran trade (Wheeler) teamed up with the jewel of the R.A. Dickey trade (d’Arnaud). And for one night in Queens, in front of 25,863 fans, it was not about the future. It was not about what Alderson and the rest of the general manager’s staff were building.

It was all about what’s happening now.

“I felt like we were both sharing the same emotions on the field,” d’Arnaud said. “And we just stuck to the plan and executed the plan.”

Now comes the bigger plan. It includes Matt Harvey and David Wright, and maybe Davis and Wilmer Flores. It’s the plan to rebuild the Mets into a contender in 2014 and beyond.

The 23-year-old Wheeler (6-2, 3.49 ERA) allowed three runs — which scored on a two-out, three-run Andrelton Simmons double in the seventh off reliever Carlos Torres — in 6 2-3 innings. The right-hander yielded six hits and three walks to go along with five strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old d’Arnaud (1-for-4) made his New York debut and belted an eighth-inning double — his 11th at-bat since his call-up Saturday.

“[Going hitless] was definitely weighing on me a little bit,” he said.

His father, Lance, was in the crowd. D’Arnaud will give him the ball from his first hit, he said.

D’Arnaud also guided Wheeler, whom he had caught in the minors, through another strong outing.

“Just a different jersey, same guy,” he said.

Wheeler thus far has delivered on the promise that made him the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft. Since July began, he’s 5-1 with a 3.08 ERA, and the Mets are 8-1. They have won nine of his 12 starts.

Wheeler has given up a combined six earned runs over 18 2-3 innings in his three outings against Atlanta. He said it’s “an easy game plan” to face them, despite their gaudy record.

“I’ve had success against them. I’m sort of happy about that,” he said. “Not so much my friends back home [in Georgia].”

But Wheeler was “pretty mad” about the seventh and having to leave the game.

“This guy, the more he pitches, the better he’s going to get,” Collins said. “He competes, boy. He was furious that he came out when he did.”

The Mets (58-66) barely were able to piece together any offense against Braves starter Brandon Beachy until Byrd’s bat got to him in a three-run sixth.

He blasted his 21st home run of the season, a two-run shot, for a career high. Byrd, 35, has hit four homers in his past seven games.

“He’s truly, absolutely saved us,” Collins said. “Every good team’s got to have a great story and a surprise. And he’s it.”

“Last year, after everything I went through — the suspension [for PEDs], going home, going down to Mexico [for winter ball], to sit here now and have a career high in homers is just a blessing,” Byrd said.